Which house would you choose?

[Stresssy]

I’ve attached the floor plans. I really love both but struggling to decide which I prefer. Both roughly 1000sq m one is more open plan than the other but with options to close things up a little and make it not as open (see images) one has a huge kitchen the other not so big and no utility 😩 I’m struggling! Thanks in advance for your help 🥰

I really hate the open plan one. I couldn’t live like that. I’d have to put a wall back in. Do you have children?

I prefer the upstairs of the second one. Bedroom 3 is more useable.

I forgot to say, both are the same price 🥰 which would you choose?

Option 2 without a doubt. It has a larger 3rd bedroom and bathroom. I also really dislike the long narrow layout of property one. It feels like one long room and the utility area looks like such a huge waste of space.

Option 2 although what are the locations like

Depends who for. If it's a family with kids, the second one. If not I'd go with my heart as either would be fine for my needs.

Option 2

What are the locations like? Parking?

@PurBal i wouldn’t usually opt for open lounge diner and kitchen but there a lovely open bright feel about it. The option was I could close the end of the living room that meets the kitchen as the door way was there so you wouldn’t have to enter the kitchen through the utility. But I doubt I would do that as the open feel to the house did feel nice. I suppose I would have to live in it and see how it felt. No we don’t have young children our children have their own places. I’m struggling as the open plan was very modern and needed nothing doing. The other option would need updating and they’re both priced the same within walking distance of each house. 😩

Option 2 based on the floorplans as option 1 is too open plan for me plus bedroom 3 is more like a study.

I'd keep looking. Option One would be like living in a corridor but if you have small children having a small kitchen with no table in it is not ideal so Option Two is also not great.

Option Two. I prefer the downstairs layout.

Option one is like one big room - good for an occasional party, but not great normally when someone is watching TV, someone else wants to play the piano and a third person just wants a chill yoga session.

If you don't do things separately much making open plan a problem, and nobody would be in the box room then I don't see why you wouldn't just go for Option 1, which it sounds like you preferred.

I did feel the same way about option one when I seen the floor plan but once inside I did feel differently. Option two needs some modernisation and I did like that the 3rd bedroom was slightly bigger but it’s just myself and DH so wouldn’t worry about that. Option one had a driveway and beautiful patio and garden. Option two didn’t have a driveway and the rear garden went in to a strange triangle point as it’s a corner plot. It did have a garage which was to the side almost at the back taking up a very large portion of the front garden. I know that doesn’t make much sense but it’s due to the position of the house. I think this is what makes me question option two. The rear garden & position of the property

Personally don’t like open plan, so option 2 for me.

All these details are why we couldn't possily judge which house you should go for. Based purely on the floorplan it's house 2 but people take loads of things into consideration, not just the floorplan. You should buy which house you like best, it doesn't matter what we think.

Personally i'd go for 1,
Option 1 is not great though.

I don't like open plan- think of the heating bills.....

The 3rd bedroom is minuscule -are you expecting it to be someone's full time bedroom? if an office, not as much of an issue.

I personally dislike that the dining room is separated from kitchen by the living room. Are you supposed to traipse all your table settings and drinks and hot food from the kitchen, through the living room?

Option 2- who needs 3 living rooms? Much prefer 2 and a utility, or 2 and a bigger kitchen. Bedroom 3 is a more usable size, if it's going to be someone's bedroom.

@Twiglets1 That’s a very good point ☺️ I just feel jittery because DH is saying “you decide” and I feel pressured 😂

Neither no downstair toilets - not just small children need them but as you get older you can develop mobility issues.

My husand is like that with holidays. Makes me choose every detail then expresses his disappointment if something isn't quite perfect 🙄

You can put in those folding doors to divide the bottom of option 1

It sounds like you prefer Option 1 OP. Some of the disadvantages listed upthread(too open plan, size of 3rd bedroom) don't matter as much when it's just the two of you. Heating might be an issue, is the house well insulated?

@LaraPeople i didn’t notice that on the floor plan. The dining room meets the kitchen so that’s an EA error. Front room was lounge/sitting room middle room was dining room with 8 seater dining table which led to the kitchen. The 3rd bedroom could be an office/wardrobe storage type room. Option two exactly the same layout as option one but front living room was divided by a wall then back part had been extended in to another sitting room which would make a lovely dining area but only entry to the kitchen is from the hall 😩so serving means would be awkward as you have to walked through the house with plates 😅 I would need to open up part of the kitchen and then that would mean I would have no workable wall as the kitchen is small and does need updating

I'd keep looking for something with a downstairs loo.

Everything you say about Option 2 is negative OP, I think it's clear that you prefer Option 1!

Can you use the gardens - are they sunny ?
Orientation of a back garden and privacy - not being very overlooked would be issues for me.
Lockdown proved to us how invaluable a sunny, usable back garden is.